Determining health information needs among older adolescents (15-19 years): A survey in Geneva, 2023

To assess health information needs, preferred information sources, and willingness to engage in health promotion among older adolescents (15-19 years) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Data were collected from 950 adolescents (aged 15-19 years) between October and November 2023 in Geneva, using a classroom-based online survey.

Adolescents expressed interest across a wide range of health topics, with Sleep receiving the highest average score. Girls expressed greater information needs in areas such as mental health, diet and self-perception, and interest generally increased with age. No significant differences were observed between public and private school students. Family remained the preferred source for diet, self-perception and safety/risk-taking, whereas social media was most used for environment, self-perception and social life. Overall, 32.6% of participants reported high readiness (scores 7-10) to engage in health promotion activities.

One-third of adolescents indicated strong willingness to participate in health promotion, highlighting an opportunity to involve them directly in public health initiatives. Parents remained key and trusted sources of information, underscoring the need to support them with accurate knowledge and communication tools. Strengthening educational and communication strategies, particularly within primary care and school health services, can enhance adolescents' access to reliable information, support informed decision-making, and improve overall well-being.